For local fans of Teresa Teng, a visit to the ongoing exhibition of Teng's relics at Shanghai Fushouyuan Cemetery in suburban Qingpu District is a must.
Teng, known locally as Teng Lichun, is one of the most popular pop song divas from Taiwan among Chinese communities worldwide since the 1970s.
Her velvety voice and endearing songs gained widespread popularity in China, Japan and Southeast Asia, prevailing for nearly three decades.
The 42-year-old pop song singer died of asthma on a trip to Thailand on May 8, 1995.
Sponsored by the Taiwan Teresa Teng Foundation, the free exhibition, running through June 1, showcases 79 Teng relics, including photos, clothes and jewelry. More than 20 cups and certificates she won are also on display.
"We have chosen things she used over different periods to give visitors various pictures of Teresa," Teng Changxi, the foundation director and Teresa's younger brother, said, adding that all the exhibits were transported directly from Taiwan.
"Since Shanghai was Teresa's favorite city, we had been planning for a long time to hold such a show here," he added. Visiting Shanghai was a lifetime dream for Teresa who had wanted to see the city's legendary Bund and architecture but never made it to the city, according to the singer's younger brother.
Opened on April 2, the exhibition has attracted hundreds of visitors, especially last weekend, organizers said.
Teng was among the first group of overseas Chinese singers who brought pop songs and music to the mainland during late 1970s right after the ending of the "Culture Revolution" (1966-1976) which branded both classic or pop music as decadent and banned them all in China.
Teng's songs influenced a generation of Chinese, now in their 40s or 50s who had little music except a few "revolutionary" songs and music during their youth time.
At the exhibition, one of Teresa's notebooks, in which she noted her daily expenses for April 12, 1995, is a highlight as the visitors see a common thing in the big pop star and local housewives, both of whom keep an account of family daily expenses.
Besides Teresa's photos taken in her home and with her family, a big-screen playing Teresa's solo concert has also been drawing the crowds, many of whom stand there quietly and listen to the familiar melodies.
"I like Teresa so much that I have a full collection of her CDs," said Qin Xiulian, a middle-aged visitor looking at a huge portrait of Teresa at the entrance of the hall.
"The exhibition provides us a good opportunity to see the pictures of Teresa's daily life," said another visitor, surnamed Shen. "Before that, I have only seen some of her stage pictures."
(Eastday.com April 9, 2003)
